Which sword should I use on monsters?

The silver sword. Use steel for humans and animals.

No. Signs use stamina, so you need to manage it.

Does Remastered change combat?

CD PROJEKT RED lists a new camera, new finishers and animation changes, plus a reworked skill tree.

Is there an easier difficulty?

Yes, the game offers several difficulty settings.

Witcher 3 Combat Guide: Signs, Swords, Dodging and Potions

Geralt is not a knight who swings one sword at everything. He is a monster hunter with two swords, five magic Signs, a crossbow and bombs. This guide explains how those tools fit together, with the Remastered changes at the end.

Key takeaways

Use the steel sword on humans and animals, and the silver sword on monsters.
Signs use stamina, so you cannot spam them.
Rolling and dodging are your main defense; blocking and countering also work.
Swords wear down and need repair.
Remastered adds a new combat camera and finishers, and a reworked skill tree.

The five Signs

Sign	What it does
Aard	A telekinetic blast that pushes enemies back
Igni	Burns enemies
Yrden	Slows enemies
Quen	A temporary protective shield
Axii	Confuses enemies

These screenshots may contain violence.

Images are provided by Steam and belong to their publishers.

Swords and basic attacks

Light attacks are fast but weak. Heavy attacks are slow but strong. Swap to the silver sword when a monster appears, and use steel for bandits and wolves. Both swords lose endurance, so repair them at a blacksmith or with kits.

Dodging and parrying

Watch the enemy wind up an attack.
Roll or dodge away just before it lands.
Strike back right after the enemy attack ends.
Cast Quen when several enemies surround you.

Potions, food and meditation

Health comes back through meditation, food and potions. Alchemy prepares you before a hunt, and mutagens boost Geralt's magic power. Brew and drink before a tough contract, not in the middle of it.

What Remastered changes

CD PROJEKT RED says the Remastered edition has new combat animations, finishers and an adaptive camera. The skill tree was also reworked, and skill points were reset. Read our beginner guide and skill tree article before you rebuild Geralt.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered – Official Launch Trailer · YouTube

The game has several difficulty settings, so lower the level if combat feels too hard. Next, see what changed in Remastered or visit the Witcher hub. Watch how others fight right now: